Lemon Wreath Cookies

By longhornfans

I love lemon in baking and these cookies don't disappoint. They are buttery and lemony and just taste like Christmas. They are fairly easy to make and I think they're super cute. I would definitely make these again.

Ingredients

• FOR THE COOKIES
• 3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for surface
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 1/4 teaspoons coarse salt
• 2/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
• 8 ounces (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 3 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• FOR THE GLAZE
• 3 cups confectioners' sugar
• 7 to 8 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (from 4 lemons)
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons white nonpareils, for sprinkling (optional)

Details

Adapted from indulgebakery.blogspot.com

Preparation

Step 1

1. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Pulse sugar and zest in a food processor until combined, about 2 minutes.
2. Beat sugar-zest mixture and butter in a mixer on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla and lemon juice. Reduce speed to low. Gradually add flour mixture, and beat until combined.
3. Refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours or overnight.
4. Roll rounded teaspoons of dough into 5 inch rope. Twist two ropes together, form into circles; press edges together. Place about 1 inch apart on oven trays.
5. Bake for 15 minsutes at 350 degrees. Cool on wire racks.
6. When cookies are completely cooled drizzle lemon icing (mix of confectioners sugar and lemon juice) on the cookies. (OR- turn cookie upside down into the icing and removed it by lifting it out with a knife in the middle of the wreath.)